‘Tis the season for giving, and here at Cyclocross Magazine HQ, our heads are full of fun holiday gift ideas for any budget, for any kind of cyclocross racer, fan or cyclist under the sun. So, what are you waiting for? Snag the holeshot and get gifting! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or More Cowbell Day, we’ve got some great gift ideas for your cycling friends (or yourself). Here’s Part 2of our guide:

Click through our slideshow with the “Next Page” and “Previous Page” buttons to see all of our favorite presents!

When cyclocrossers think of the brand Mad Alchemy, they automatically think of embrocation. After all, embrocation to cyclocross is what … well, apple pie is to America. And while the brand may be best known for their product that should never, ever, go near a racer’s “nether-regions,” they do, in fact, offer a chamois cream, LaFemme Chamois Crème. Just remember to check the label first, to make sure you’re applying the right thing to the right place.

What kind of chamois expertise do I have? Well, I recently was lucky enough to be a part of Tim Johnson’s Ride on Washington. For those of you who haven’t been paying attention to bike-related news, the ride included four straight days of 100+ miles of cycling. If you’ve ever done one century, you know the importance of chamois cream. Now imagine four, back-to-back, or saddle-to-saddle. To say that chamois cream was being used in excess by the riders is an understatement. At rest stops (and by rest stops, I mean stops on the side of the road), tubs of the stuff were being passed back and forth as often as water bottles. Mad Alchemy donated a big box of embrocation and other goodies (stay tuned for our Hell of the East embrocation review) and mixed in was some of their chamois crème. I grabbed a tub of it, expecting it to be like most other creams that I’ve tried, but hoping it would help me survive the last couple of long days.

I have to say, this is probably the best chamois cream I have ever used. For starters, the texture is less like a Noxema-style cream and more smooth:

Mad Alchemy LaFemme Chamois Cream is waxier than most other brands.

It feels a little bit wetter, and almost has a Vaseline-type of texture, but not as thick or sticky. This is great for long rides because it has more “staying power” than other brands, which can tend to wear off after a couple of hours in the saddle.

On the Mad Alchemy site, they list the ingredients (other than the actual chamois cream base) as Lavender, Tea Tree, Grapefruit and Peppermint Essential Oils. I appreciate that Mad Alchemy stresses the use of natural ingredients, and they explain the rationale for each of the oils they use. For example, lavender is included because it’s been used for years as an antiseptic and pain reliever (130 miles into a ride, you need that pain relief!). Tea tree oil is a nice touch as well, since it serves as an “anti-fungal and anti-viral agent.”

For me, and for pretty much any woman I’ve ever talked to, big base miles can be seriously painful on our — ahem — “lady parts.” Unless you’ve found the perfect saddle and are in the exactly correct position, odds are good there’s going to be some friction, no matter what you do. And while even this stuff wasn’t making me feel like I was floating along down the road, I did notice a difference between the Mad Alchemy that I started using on Day Three versus the much cheaper Udderly Smooth Udder Cream that I had been using for the first couple of hundred miles. There was less chafing, less discomfort, and to be perfectly blunt, after the ride, I wasn’t quite as miserable or as beat up as I had been the days prior. Not to mention, the smell is lovely, and it was definitely pleasant to start the ride feeling like I smelled nice, rather than chemical-y (or sweaty).

Bottom line (pun intended): if you’re racking up the base miles in the off-season and are looking for a chamois cream, check this one out.

For all of you men out there, Mad Alchemy does offer a few other varieties not designed for the ladies, so check them out. Or if you like the idea of soothing lavender in your chamois, don’t be shy about rocking the LaFemme version.

]]>http://www.cxmagazine.com/product-review-mad-alchemy-lafemme-chamois-crme/feed2Embrocation Review: Enzos Embro Sticks, Oil Sticks, and Button Hole Chamois Creamhttp://www.cxmagazine.com/embrocation-review-enzos-cyclocross-embrocation-oil-sticks
http://www.cxmagazine.com/embrocation-review-enzos-cyclocross-embrocation-oil-sticks#commentsWed, 30 Nov 2011 19:05:43 +0000http://www.cxmagazine.com/?p=30155More than any other type of cyclist, cyclocrossers have an infatuation with embrocation. The ointments can help protect your skin from the elements, and give ...

More than any other type of cyclist, cyclocrossers have an infatuation with embrocation. The ointments can help protect your skin from the elements, and give you a sense of warmth when it’s cold outside – not just during cyclocross but also during the wet winter and early spring season. With the growth of the cyclocross, there’s an ever-growing number of choices and flavors. Today, we’re taking a look at one of the newer products to hit the embrocation market: Enzos.

When it comes to embrocation, a few big names stand out. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other, lesser-known products out there. When Enzo’s Cycling Products got in touch and asked if we were interested in checking out their line of embrocation, we were pretty excited to give it a shot.

My friend Donny and I spent the last few weeks testing out the three types of embrocation (warm, hot and “oil,” which is water-resistant) that they sent us, and we were overall favorably impressed.

Enzo’s embrocation (say that five times fast!) comes in stick form (Enzo’s Embro Stick) instead of in a jar, and it comes with a few latex gloves thrown in, so application is easier and way less messy. We were actually embarrassed that neither of us had ever thought to use a glove rather than our bare hands when applying embrocation in the past. You know how it goes: put on embrocation, accidentally touch face (or other – ahem – sensitive spots) and start cursing and hopping around like a crazy person. But wearing a glove means clean application without awkward accidents afterwards. Ease of application? Check. Just use the stick to get it on your legs, then use the glove to even it out.

That said, even the rep from Enzo’s suggested making sure we really slather it on in order to get the full effect. So even with the ease of application and the fairly large stick of it that you get, it goes fast.

The first thing you notice when you uncap the sticks is the smell: cinnamon is the dominant fragrance, so even though it’s 30 degrees and pouring outside, the car still smells like mom’s apple pie, rather than the camphor smell that you get from say, Icy Hot gel. As Donny put it, “All the sticks smell the same – it smells great – the fragrance is one of my favorites out of any embro I’ve used.”

We – or maybe just Enzo’s – were in luck, because the first weekend we showed up to a race armed with our new embrocation sticks, it was snowing and sleeting heavily. In October. This made the apple-pie smell of the “Hot” sticks even more noticeable, as we applied them crammed in a small car, scared to get out to face the elements.

To that end, since we were trying to put this stuff on in a cramped space, Donny agreed with me that the stick application is great, really convenient, though you do have to use a little bit more.

During the race, we could definitely feel the embrocation heating up, especially because we were riding in the rain, so it activated right away. Unlike some embrocations that seem to be most effective post-race, this one was effective when it needed to be, without being overwhelming. They were definitely true to the temperatures that they said they would be good for on their labels. (For a frame of reference, the hot stick would be around medium in Mad Alchemy terms.)

The price is a little high ($16.95) for how many uses you get out of one stick, because as we’ve said, it takes a lot to work well. If you use enough for it to work the way you want it to work, you’d probably get a solid six to eight races out of it.

The Oil Stick is exactly what it says: a non-heating embrocation, meant for use on rainy days. And while the rain does indeed slide off, it seemed like it wasn’t quite worth the hassle, since there was so much dirt sticking to Donny’s legs that he had to spend a good chunk of time washing them off afterwards. But pre-ride, they did have that embrocation gleam, and rain did slick off during the ride.

The most important detail for us: If you’ve used embrocation before, you know that it can feel pretty bad in the shower the night after a race. The burning sensation goes from being helpful to being just painful. But with the Enzos, while there was certainly some discomfort, it wasn’t as burn-y as some of the other products I’ve used. As Donny put it, “it didn’t really light your legs up for the entire night.”

We noticed that the chamois cream — also excellent — had that nice tingle that other chamois creams with tea tree oil tend to have, and it worked great.

In general, Enzos gets a thumbs-up from us, with a hope that at some point, they’ll increase their stick sizes without increasing the price. But for the amazing smell and the no-mess gentle heat, it gets a “win.”

Enzo’s sells embrocation and their Button Hole Chamois Cream through select retailers and directly through their website. To find a dealer near you, visit their dealer page.

More than any other type of cyclist, cyclocrossers have an infatuation with embrocation. The ointments can help protect your skin from the elements, and give you a sense of warmth when it’s cold outside – not just during cyclocross but also during the wet winter and early spring season. With the growth of the cyclocross, there’s an ever-growing number of choices and flavors. We take a look at two all-natural from Chomper Body.

Crank Embrocation Rub comes in a tub like most other embrocations, but it comes out of the jar quite solid, more like the consistency of lip balm than a lotion, definitely more solid than other embrocations like Mad Alchemy. It spreads more easily once you’ve warmed it in hand, but it definitely takes a bit more effort to get a smooth application.

Labeled “Spicy Hot – 32-45 degrees F,” it goes on pretty hot – I was stinging pretty well for the first few minutes. After a few minutes it calmed down and kept a good steady warmth during my ride and afterward. I would rate it as overall less hot than the popular “medium” Mad Alchemy, but perhaps I was using less of it than I would have used of the Mad Alchemy. Clean up in the shower was pretty simple.

With such a solid consistency, the Crank Embrocation would be ideal to put in some sort of applicator for hands-free embrocation. At $15.00 for 4 oz. retail, it is a bit cheaper than some of the competition, and a good value.

Chomper Body “Muscle Butter” Therapeutic Lotion ($9.00 / 4 oz.):

Chomper Body Muscle Butter Recovery Lotion

Muscle Butter is a rubdown/massage lotion that provides a a good excuse to do some more warm-down stretching or massage after a post-ride shower. It’s described by Chomper as “a stimulating mix of rosemary, peppermint and basil essential oils” but to my nose, it was a bit too heavy on the rosemary; I kept thinking someone must have brought home a rotisserie chicken, but I was really smelling my legs.

Whether you like the rosemary smell or not, the upside is that if used after a ride, you’ll get the blood flowing in your muscles and flush out some of the lactic acid, and in doing so, you may have built up a craving for some freshly roasted recovery protein. At $9.00 for 4 oz, it’s not expensive but doesn’t last as long as the embrocation.

Kool ‘N Fit Sport is a liquid spray designed to help with muscle warm-up and recovery. Add “does laundry” and “cooks your recovery dinner” to its list of attributes and it would be every racer’s perfect mate. Seriously, product manufacturer Kool Fit recommends using their Sport product to improve warm-up, invigorate, avoid fatigue, prevent cramps, reduce next-day soreness, improve recovery, allow for better stretching, speed up healing from injuries, relieve general stress and generate a feeling of well-being.

To test the product, I followed the manufacturer’s recommendations and on several occasions applied the spray to one leg post-ride and left the other untreated. I’ve been doing lots of on-the-bike strength workouts lately, so there’s been plenty of muscle soreness to treat. Initially there’s a tingling, cooling sensation, which turns to a gentle warm feeling–on par with a mild to medium-level embrocation.

The mentholly smell is pleasant and invigorating–in fact Kool Fit recommends that competitors spray the liquid on their upper lips to open nasal passages and improve breathing. I find it a good way to pep-up and refocus during long workouts or events.

The difference in my Pepsi challenge test was clear; whichever leg I treated would quickly feel relief and diminished post-workout soreness and fatigue. The tingling / warming sensation goes away within an hour or so, but the muscle relief continues. I felt better both lounging at home post-ride and, although this is tougher to gauge, think that it improved my recovery for the next day’s workout.

Kool Fit claims that the Sport spray’s formulation “penetrates deeper than other analgesics to relax and soothe muscles better.” It acts as a vasodilator, widening the blood vessels and allowing for increased blood flow to the muscles. More blood flow means faster waste removal and more oxygen coming in: two keys to improving both performance and recovery.

I have to confess that I have mixed feelings about embrocations in general. I tend to use them more for post-ride recovery and, although I may occasionally apply them before a ride if I’m particularly sore, I never use them as a substitute for clothing. The danger with embrocations is that the vasodilation also brings more blood to the skin’s surface–which makes you feel warmer but in fact results in lowered body temperatures and can increase the chances of hypothermia.

As the Kool ‘N Fit name clearly recognizes, their Sport product will help keep your core temperature down during intense activity. That’s a performance advantage during hot weather, and I look forward to experimenting with it more both pre-ride and in-ride this summer. For now, it’s been plenty cold enough in Portland that I’ll stick to layering.

While the spray won’t actually generate body heat, it does make you more limber at the beginning of a ride. A proper warm-up for your muscles and aerobic system is still necessary, but it makes the process a little easier.

One decided bonus of Kool ‘N Fit Sport is its delivery system–it’s a spray that requires no rubbing in. That means that when you’re treating yourself before or after an event, you don’t end up with the solution all over your hands, which will inevitably lead towards inadvertently rubbing your eyes or other dire consequences in a porta-potty. Kool ‘N Fit Sport also comes in small, portable sizes–perfect for stowing in a jersey and pulling out mid-ride for a quick application.

Other innovative suggested product uses include pre-treating socks or the legs of cycling shorts the night before an event with the spray (I’d recommend staying away from the chamois area!). The alcohol in the spray will quickly evaporate, but when you start sweating during your race, the Sport spray will go to work.

While there’s no unusual new wonder-ingredient harvested from deep in the South American jungle or crafted in some overly-fluorescent-lit lab, there doesn’t need to be. The old-school formula, which company president Hubertus von der Beeck traces back to his ancestors in Germany circa 1880, works. The ingredients–mainly a mix of menthol, camphor, essential oils and alcohol–aren’t so different than those found in other balms and embrocations. But the combination found in Kool ‘N Fit Sport definitely does the trick for me. I encourage you to take the company up on their free sample offer.

Chamois cream doesn’t exactly evoke visions creating speed or power, but it is one of those items that can make or break a ride, race, or lazy day on the bike. So when the good folks at Friction Freedom sent up a jar of their chamois cream I was very interested to see what they had brewed up.

Friction Freedom’s goal was to produce the longest-lasting chamois cream available and according to my rear end and sensitive areas they have hit a home run. I’ve been using it for just about six weeks and have tested it on many fronts – long road and short road rides, several wet mountain bike rides, track racing and even interval sessions on the indoor trainer.

On all accounts Friction Freedom has proved worthy and then some. The unique feel of the menthol in the product engages you as the product kicks in and their creative use of emulsifiers keeps it from absorbing like many others I have tried. True to their claim I managed five and a half hours on the bike during a recent century and never once worried about those sensitive areas. In fact, upon finishing I still had enough lube on me to warrant the use of a towel! This also allowed me to save one of their handy 7ml packets that I had in my pocket for another day.

Another great feature of the product is how long it lasts. Friction Freedom claims that an eight ounce jar would net 68% more uses than the leading competitor. Now, I’m not one to scoff at marketing claims but 68% seemed like a lot. But after six weeks of the use, I’ve still got about a half a jar of product left and am by no means shy about the amount I apply pre-ride.

So what does this all mean to you, the rider? Well, this means that Friction Freedom might be worth a chance to get intimate with your chamois and sensitive areas. $29.95 may seem a bit pricey for a jar, but because it lasts so long and works so well, as a discerning cyclist, I would recommend it if you want be friction free.

Peter Smith of Mad Alchemy Embrocation loves to embrocate. His daily routine is “wake, shower, dress, coffee, embrocate, commute.” In fact, for Smith, embrocation is so important, it replaces breakfast. The expert embrocator knows a thing about embrocation and is pretty picky, which is why he started trying to make his own stuff. Many batches later, he’s happy with his concoctions, and is now offering them under his newly-started brand, Mad Alchemy.

We sampled his two most popular products: his Warm Weather Embrocation and his Cold Weather Embrocation. Both are made from 100% natural ingredients, including grapeseed oil, soybean oil, essential oils, and beeswax. His products are described as vegan-pleasing and 100% natural. (Grapeseed oil also happens to have a high smoke point too, so in case you’re really burning up the course, your smoke won’t give you away). The Cold Weather Embrocation comes in three variations: Mellow, Medium, and Madness. Given that we’re of course wine-country softies here in Norcal and the temps are still warm, we went with the Mellow.

Initial tests revealed the Cold Weather product to have a strong, long-lasting warmth, a ripe guava-hue, and potent but pleasing tropical fragrance. The Warm Weather vintage had a very mild and smooth, soothing feel, and a very nice bouquet, filled with hints of mint and citrus . But please don’t ask about their mouth-feel…you are not supposed to eat them and we managed to resist. Sleepy coffee lovers may not have as much self control however, as Smith offers a coffee-enhanced embrocation (currently sold out).

Unless you are a daily embrocator like Smith, a 4 oz jar may last you several months if not a season.

Stay tuned for further testing of Mad Alchemy and other embrocations. We just might have to get the stopwatch out and have another product shootout.